Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Dam Powerhouse Rehabilitations and Possible Operational Changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams, Kentucky and Tennessee, 65950-65951 [E7-22959]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 65950 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 226 / Monday, November 26, 2007 / Notices 3. Issues. There are several potential environmental issues that will be addressed in the DSEIS. Additional issues may be identified during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially significant include: a. Potential impact to marine biological resources (benthic organisms, passageway for fish and other marine life) and Essential Fish Habitat, particularly Hard Bottoms. b. Potential impact to threatened and endangered marine mammals, birds, fish, and plants. c. Potential impacts to water quality. d. Potential increase in erosion rates to adjacent beaches. e. Potential impacts to navigation, commercial and recreational. f. Potential impacts to private and public property. g. Potential impacts on public health and safety. h. Potential impacts to recreational and commercial fishing. i. The compatibility of the material for nourishment. j. Potential economic impacts. 4. Alternatives. Several alternatives are being considered for the proposed project. These alternatives will be further formulated and developed during the scoping process and an appropriate range of alternatives, including the No Action alternative, will be considered in the Supplemental Draft EIS. 5. Scoping Process. Project Delivery Team meetings will be held to receive comments and assess concerns regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the DSEIS. Participation in the meeting by federal, state, and local agencies and other interested organizations and persons is encouraged. The COE will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the Supplemental Draft EIS will assess the potential water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, and will be coordinated with NCDCM to determine the projects consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The USACE will closely work with NCDCM through the SDEIS to ensure the process complies with all State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. It is the USACE and NCDCM’s intentions to consolidate both NEPA and SEPA processes to eliminate duplications. VerDate Aug<31>2005 22:03 Nov 23, 2007 Jkt 214001 6. Availability of the Draft Supplemental EIS. The DSEIS is expected to be published and circulated in early 2008, and a public hearing will be held after the publication of the DSEIS. Dated: November 13, 2007. John E. Pulliam, Jr., Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander. [FR Doc. E7–22958 Filed 11–23–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–GN–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Dam Powerhouse Rehabilitations and Possible Operational Changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams, Kentucky and Tennessee AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent. SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers (Corps), Nashville District, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) relating to proposed dam powerhouse rehabilitations and possible operational changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Corps is studying the possible impacts of modifying existing equipment. Due to improvements in technology, rehabilitating the equipment could make it possible to produce more power from the same amount of water discharged. Changes in equipment and operational procedures could also cause higher tailwater heights and velocities, but as there is a limited amount of water they could be for shorter duration. In addition, alterations to flow regimes are being considered to provide minimum flows when hydropower releases are shut off. If improvements are successful, other dams may eventually be considered for similar changes. This study was begun in 2003 and a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2003; however, due to funding constraints work ceased before a Draft EIS could be completed. The proposed rehabilitation of the powerhouse and generating units is not related to the dam seepage repairs that are ongoing at Center Hill and Wolf Creek Dams. DATES: Written scoping comments on issues to be considered in the DEIS will be accepted by the Corps of Engineers until December 26, 2007. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Scoping comments should be mailed to: Mr. Chip Hall, Project Planning Branch, Nashville District Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 1070 (PM– P), Nashville, TN 37202–1070, or may be e-mailed to hydropower.rehab@Lrn02. usace.army.miL. ADDRESSES: For additional information concerning the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Chip Hall, Project Planning Branch, (615) 736–7666. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. The intent of the DEIS is to provide NEPA compliance for changes in design features and operating procedures of the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in the Cumberland River system. All three dams are of a similar age, have similar turbines and related equipment, and have similar proposed rehabilitation and operational changes. Operating and equipment changes that will be studied could potentially affect more than a combined total 60 miles of tailwaters. This would primarily be a result of efforts to raise dissolved oxygen levels to meet the minimum state water quality standards, although flows and elevations could also be altered for a significant distance. The Cumberland River includes ten dams and reservoirs. The 10 projects are managed as one system with the goal of managing the flow of water through the entire Cumberland River basin. If the proposed changes prove desirable, they could set a precedent for future rehabilitations at other hydropower facilities. The Corps, therefore, proposes to evaluate these dams programmatically. 2. The three dams considered under this Environmental Impact Statement, Wolf Creek Dam, Center Hill Dam, and Dale Hollow Dam, were authorized in the 1930s and constructed in the 1940s before there was a significant concern for environmental protection. They all predate the NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and many other related environmental laws and regulations. Together these three Corps projects affect the temperatures, flows, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels of up to 250 miles of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The Corps is studying the possible impacts of modifying existing structures or operating procedures to improve DO in the tailwaters. Alterations to flow regimes are being considered to provide minimum flows below the dams when hydropower releases are shut off. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 226 / Monday, November 26, 2007 / Notices 3. Key proposed project features to be evaluated in the DEIS include the following: a. Rehabilitation of turbines including Auto Venting Turbines to improve DO levels in the tailwaters. b. Minimum releases to ensure continuous flows between periods of generation. c. The effects of increased tailwater flows on tailwater parks, downstream fishing areas, adjacent low lying farmlands, erosion of riverbanks, cultural archaeological and historic sites, and changes to the hydraulics and hydrology of the rivers. d. Other alternatives studied will include: No Action; restoration to the ‘‘original’’ 1948 condition; refurbishing existing units; oxygenating water in the dam forebays prior to release; and spilling water through the sluice gates. 4. This notice serves to solicit scoping comments from the public; federal, state and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received during the comment period will be considered in the NEPA process. Comments are used to assess impacts on fish and wildlife, endangered species, historic properties, water quality, water supply and conservation, economics, aesthetics, wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shore erosion and accretion, recreation, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, general environmental effects, cumulative effects, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Public meetings may be held, however, times, dates, or locations have not been determined. 5. Other federal, state and local approvals required for the proposed work include coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 6. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS include impacts to tailwater fisheries, recreation, economics, water quality, historic and cultural resources, streambank erosion, future power demands, and cumulative impacts. The DEIS should be available in January 2008. Bernard R. Lindstrom, Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer. [FR Doc. E7–22959 Filed 11–23–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–GF–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 22:03 Nov 23, 2007 Jkt 214001 65951 study may be viewed on the study Web site: https://www.glsls-study.com. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Availability of Final Bi-National Report for the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence Seaway Study Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of availability. David L. Wright, Senior Project Manager, GLSLS Study U.S. Co-Manager, USACE-Detroit. [FR Doc. E7–22967 Filed 11–23–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–GA–P AGENCY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, is issuing this notice to announce the availability for public review and feedback of the final bi-national report for the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) Study. This study was conducted jointly with Canada and was overseen by a steering committee that included representatives from the United States Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. The study evaluated the commercial navigation infrastructure needs of the GLSLS as it is currently configured, and does not make any recommendations related to the implementation of any physical project modifications. The study assessed ongoing maintenance and longterm capital requirements to ensure the continuing viability of the system, targeting the engineering, economic and environmental implications of those needs as they pertain to the marine transportation infrastructure upon which commercial navigation depends. The public is invited to provide feedback which will be provided to the above noted partner agencies for their consideration as each assess the study findings related to future system’s operation and maintenance. DATES: The Final Report will be available for public review starting November 26, 2007, and any written feedback received by January 18, 2008 will be posted to the study Web site identified below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Wright, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, 477 Michigan Avenue, P.O. Box 1027, Detroit, Michigan 48231–1027, at (313) 226–3573 or at david.l.wright@usace.army.mil. Written comments are to be provided to Mr. Wright. SUMMARY: The report and background information on the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Overview Information; Smaller Learning Communities Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Funds Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215L. Applications Available: November 26, 2007. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: January 10, 2008. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 25, 2008. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 24, 2008. DATES: Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) program awards discretionary grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to support the implementation of SLCs and activities to improve student academic achievement in large public high schools with enrollments of 1,000 or more students. SLCs include structures such as freshman academies, multigrade academies organized around career interests or other themes, ‘‘houses’’ in which small groups of students remain together throughout high school, and autonomous schoolswithin-a-school, as well as personalization strategies, such as student advisories, family advocate systems, and mentoring programs. Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priority, requirements, and selection criteria for this program published in the Federal Register on May 18, 2007 (72 FR 28426). Absolute Priority: For new awards made using FY 2007 funds and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Preparing All Students to Succeed in Postsecondary Education and Careers. This priority supports projects that create or expand SLCs that are part of E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 226 (Monday, November 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65950-65951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22959]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Proposed Dam Powerhouse Rehabilitations and Possible Operational 
Changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams, Kentucky 
and Tennessee

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers (Corps), Nashville District, will 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) relating to 
proposed dam powerhouse rehabilitations and possible operational 
changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in 
Kentucky and Tennessee. The Corps is studying the possible impacts of 
modifying existing equipment. Due to improvements in technology, 
rehabilitating the equipment could make it possible to produce more 
power from the same amount of water discharged. Changes in equipment 
and operational procedures could also cause higher tailwater heights 
and velocities, but as there is a limited amount of water they could be 
for shorter duration. In addition, alterations to flow regimes are 
being considered to provide minimum flows when hydropower releases are 
shut off. If improvements are successful, other dams may eventually be 
considered for similar changes. This study was begun in 2003 and a 
Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on September 25, 
2003; however, due to funding constraints work ceased before a Draft 
EIS could be completed. The proposed rehabilitation of the powerhouse 
and generating units is not related to the dam seepage repairs that are 
ongoing at Center Hill and Wolf Creek Dams.

DATES: Written scoping comments on issues to be considered in the DEIS 
will be accepted by the Corps of Engineers until December 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments should be mailed to: Mr. Chip Hall, Project 
Planning Branch, Nashville District Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 1070 
(PM-P), Nashville, TN 37202-1070, or may be e-mailed to 
hydropower.rehab@Lrn02.usace.army.miL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning 
the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Chip Hall, Project 
Planning Branch, (615) 736-7666.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The intent of the DEIS is to provide NEPA 
compliance for changes in design features and operating procedures of 
the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in the Cumberland 
River system. All three dams are of a similar age, have similar 
turbines and related equipment, and have similar proposed 
rehabilitation and operational changes. Operating and equipment changes 
that will be studied could potentially affect more than a combined 
total 60 miles of tailwaters. This would primarily be a result of 
efforts to raise dissolved oxygen levels to meet the minimum state 
water quality standards, although flows and elevations could also be 
altered for a significant distance. The Cumberland River includes ten 
dams and reservoirs. The 10 projects are managed as one system with the 
goal of managing the flow of water through the entire Cumberland River 
basin. If the proposed changes prove desirable, they could set a 
precedent for future rehabilitations at other hydropower facilities. 
The Corps, therefore, proposes to evaluate these dams programmatically.
    2. The three dams considered under this Environmental Impact 
Statement, Wolf Creek Dam, Center Hill Dam, and Dale Hollow Dam, were 
authorized in the 1930s and constructed in the 1940s before there was a 
significant concern for environmental protection. They all predate the 
NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and 
many other related environmental laws and regulations. Together these 
three Corps projects affect the temperatures, flows, and dissolved 
oxygen (DO) levels of up to 250 miles of the Cumberland River and its 
tributaries. The Corps is studying the possible impacts of modifying 
existing structures or operating procedures to improve DO in the 
tailwaters. Alterations to flow regimes are being considered to provide 
minimum flows below the dams when hydropower releases are shut off.

[[Page 65951]]

    3. Key proposed project features to be evaluated in the DEIS 
include the following:
    a. Rehabilitation of turbines including Auto Venting Turbines to 
improve DO levels in the tailwaters.
    b. Minimum releases to ensure continuous flows between periods of 
generation.
    c. The effects of increased tailwater flows on tailwater parks, 
downstream fishing areas, adjacent low lying farmlands, erosion of 
riverbanks, cultural archaeological and historic sites, and changes to 
the hydraulics and hydrology of the rivers.
    d. Other alternatives studied will include: No Action; restoration 
to the ``original'' 1948 condition; refurbishing existing units; 
oxygenating water in the dam forebays prior to release; and spilling 
water through the sluice gates.
    4. This notice serves to solicit scoping comments from the public; 
federal, state and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and 
other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts 
of this proposed activity. Any comments received during the comment 
period will be considered in the NEPA process. Comments are used to 
assess impacts on fish and wildlife, endangered species, historic 
properties, water quality, water supply and conservation, economics, 
aesthetics, wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, 
navigation, shore erosion and accretion, recreation, energy needs, 
safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of 
property ownership, general environmental effects, cumulative effects, 
and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Public meetings 
may be held, however, times, dates, or locations have not been 
determined.
    5. Other federal, state and local approvals required for the 
proposed work include coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
    6. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS include 
impacts to tailwater fisheries, recreation, economics, water quality, 
historic and cultural resources, streambank erosion, future power 
demands, and cumulative impacts. The DEIS should be available in 
January 2008.

Bernard R. Lindstrom,
Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E7-22959 Filed 11-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-GF-P
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